tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post6608603246726922701..comments2023-10-16T13:06:42.360+01:00Comments on Happiness of Being: The Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: What is the real ‘living guru’, and what is the look of its grace?Michael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460943269122289281noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-26019274501740562272017-04-16T21:14:57.503+01:002017-04-16T21:14:57.503+01:00gargoyle,
what is your question ?gargoyle,<br />what is your question ?pavalakunrunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-87654984156568112282017-04-16T18:32:33.714+01:002017-04-16T18:32:33.714+01:00May I switch gears and ask for clarification on an...May I switch gears and ask for clarification on another subject?<br /><br />....accepting karma without attachment<br /><br />I was reading ozhivial odukkam, vs. 243, page 321 and wondered if anyone can give me some examples, such as...<br /><br />One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth and becomes a billionaire while another man will be in poverty his entire life. Bad examples perhaps so any other examples may make more sense to me. <br /><br />I understand Bhagavan's instruction to his mother regarding the ordainer controls the fate of souls in accordance with their past deeds, their prarabdha karma. What will happen will happen and what won't happen will not happen. <br /><br />The part about accepting our karma without attachment should be easy to understand but....<br /><br />sorry to ask such a question but it helps me to understand<br /><br />Thanksgargoylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-20412146386974835122017-04-16T13:59:25.177+01:002017-04-16T13:59:25.177+01:00Yes, gargoyle, as Michael has explained, we cannot...Yes, gargoyle, as Michael has explained, we cannot and should not try to practise self-investigation dictated by a clock. To put it slightly crudely, we cannot make love to our wife by deciding a fixed time-table. Similar is the case with <i>atma-vichara</i>. If we try to practice at fixed times, we may remember to practise it only at such times, and therefore miss many valuable free moments which are available to us everyday. We have a choice each and every moment of the day: either we attend to the things of this illusory world, or try to attend to ourself alone. We know what we should be choosing. Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-28984774105982879822017-04-16T12:21:51.817+01:002017-04-16T12:21:51.817+01:00Sanjay Lohia
After reading your reply and thinkin...Sanjay Lohia<br /><br />After reading your reply and thinking deeply about my practise I realized something that I had overlooked (or the ego did on purpose)...that when I practised at the same times of day I was only going by the clock. <br />I was practising because I felt I had to and not out of love. I let the clock dictate what I would do and when I would do it. <br /><br />Take Care<br /><br />gargoylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-21623350489061452542017-04-15T10:07:45.691+01:002017-04-15T10:07:45.691+01:00Ravikiran, yes, it is not possible to practise sel...Ravikiran, yes, it is not possible to practise self-investigation at all times, although that should be our aim. Whenever we remember to do so or whenever we do not have any pressing engagements, we should try and turn our gaze towards ourself alone, and keep it there for as long as possible. We know it is easier said than done, but there is no other direct and infallible path to self-knowledge. <br /><br />I agree with gargoyle when he implies that we need not practise at fixed times. Bhagavan also said that fixed times are for spiritual novices. Therefore, we should try and practise whenever we feel inclined to do so. This practice is propelled by our self-love (<i>svatma-bhakti</i>), and we cannot expect to generate such love at fixed times. However, for some a fixed schedule may help, but generally it is not very useful. <br />Sanjay Lohiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02384912997886218824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-81722996751188199342017-04-14T22:11:53.452+01:002017-04-14T22:11:53.452+01:00Ravikiran Jana
May I make a comment in regards to...Ravikiran Jana<br /><br />May I make a comment in regards to my experience about scheduling? I'm sure Michael will clear this up for your much better than my comment. <br /><br />For some time in the past I had a daily schedule of practise. At first my practise seemed to work fine but something happened and regardless of how hard I tried to get back to my practise at the same time and place each day I suddenly had problems and could not duplicate my previous practise of atma vichara.<br /><br />I found that the best way for me to practise is to be spontaneous. Regardless if I only have 1 minute or an hour not making a set time and place seemed to be best for me.<br /><br />I referred to this as tricking the ego. Whatever it was it worked for me. <br /><br />Just my humble opinion. <br /><br />We are all different and what works for one person may not work for someone else.<br /><br />I wish you the very best. <br /><br />gargoylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-57137097786032398082017-04-13T14:55:18.096+01:002017-04-13T14:55:18.096+01:00I don't know this is correct place to post. Bu...I don't know this is correct place to post. But I could not mail Micheal ji. That is why this post here.<br /><br /><br />Dear sir ,<br /> I have some questions regarding sadhana. Please answer so that I can progress.<br /><br />1. As you are suggesting everyone to attend to ego (I- thought) directly [of course, it is the method of 'self-enquiry'], but it is almost impossible for me. After so many attempts, only once I had sense of my 'I thought'. Most of the time is being passed in eliminating other thoughts itself in meditation. How to overcome this problem??<br /><br />2. Every spiritual teacher says there is no essence or happiness in outside the world (or so much misery in world we see). Intellectually I can understand. But how and when my mind will know the pain and misery in outside world and turn inward?<br /><br />3. I feel from my practice 'SELF ENQUIRY' is not possible at all times. But how to make it possible in all times? and also if self enquiry is being difficult at a particular time , what practice is better? Whether we can have some gap and again try self enquiry or we have to continue with some other practice. Please clarify.<br /><br />4. Another problem is with schedule. How to make disciplinary life? Please if possible suggest me a daily schedule [at least give daily routine of some serious sadhakas so that I can carve out a plan]<br /><br />Best regards,<br />JANA RAVI KIRANAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04422221860995368541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-57110274438820494972017-04-12T19:47:09.524+01:002017-04-12T19:47:09.524+01:00daisilui,
yes, time is a treasure - death walks be...daisilui,<br />yes, time is a treasure - death walks behind us.ahamukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-84626909453558789422017-04-12T19:38:55.079+01:002017-04-12T19:38:55.079+01:00Mouna,
nothing is easy...:)Mouna,<br />nothing is easy...:)ahamukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-82152478414160749002017-04-12T19:38:25.975+01:002017-04-12T19:38:25.975+01:00 ahamukham
i got the joke :) but my preference is ... ahamukham<br />i got the joke :) but my preference is no blabbering at all [even the coherent type...]Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03098205640361255053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-56150101971563706202017-04-12T19:33:46.951+01:002017-04-12T19:33:46.951+01:00daisilui,
my suggestion to give "incoherent b...daisilui,<br />my suggestion to give "incoherent blabbering" a chance to "take one deep into reality" was only intended jokingly.ahamukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-78057408478382352762017-04-12T19:28:32.487+01:002017-04-12T19:28:32.487+01:00ahamukham, greetings
"Who or what is abiding...ahamukham, greetings<br /><br /><i>"Who or what is abiding in what?"</i><br /><br />touché...Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-16572891349147817712017-04-12T19:19:06.598+01:002017-04-12T19:19:06.598+01:00Mouna,greetings again,
in discussing that point of...Mouna,greetings again,<br />in discussing that point of deep sleep conceptual distinction is unavoidable and even necessary.<br />Who or what is abiding in what ?ahamukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-42307374216027035752017-04-12T19:15:07.661+01:002017-04-12T19:15:07.661+01:00ahamukham
you left out the end which is quite impo...ahamukham<br />you left out the end which is quite important- once there who is to pass up an opportunity?! Anyways, i am not sure i understand- opportunity for what?Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03098205640361255053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-59818781167069271282017-04-12T19:00:49.013+01:002017-04-12T19:00:49.013+01:00daisilui,
"...if incoherent blabbering takes ...daisilui,<br />"...if incoherent blabbering takes you deep into reality, does it matter how you got there...?<br />yes, one should not pass up an opportunity. :)ahamukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-28473180507767515632017-04-12T18:15:23.352+01:002017-04-12T18:15:23.352+01:00aha-muhkam, hello
"But you might understand ...aha-muhkam, hello<br /><br /><i>"But you might understand that we necessarily must differentiate between ego and real I."</i><br /><br />Absolutely, it is part of Bhagavan’s teachings, maybe even we could say the very first stages of it.<br />We need to understand, though, that this difference is just conceptual because “the snake is actually the rope” or “the pot is actually only clay".<br />After that was understood and saw through, it is only abiding...<br /><br />Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-2733852747034607212017-04-12T18:09:03.806+01:002017-04-12T18:09:03.806+01:00Mouna, my friend,
you know from your own daily exp...Mouna, my friend,<br />you know from your own daily experience: in deep sleep the ego-phantom is not present but only the real 'I am'- as you say in the last sentence of your reply to me. <br />You are also right in saying "No one can say I am in deep sleep,..".<br />But you might understand that we necessarily must differentiate between ego and real I. <br />Of course, the real 'I am' does not make statements let alone in deep sleep.<br />it is not at all a paradox that in deep sleep is only the real I - free of any adjuncts. aha-mukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-83615071995687660632017-04-12T17:40:45.430+01:002017-04-12T17:40:45.430+01:00daisilui,
:)daisilui,<br /><br />:)Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-89226292028138673572017-04-12T17:27:35.760+01:002017-04-12T17:27:35.760+01:00Mouna,
you may remember in the past i expressed a ...Mouna,<br />you may remember in the past i expressed a preference for 'isness' to 'amness'...<br /><br />As for the blasphemy :) i'd say you cannot be profane or sacrilegious towards the Self, only towards the unreal [ego]. As far as i know Ramana Maharshi didn't reject any paths that take you to the same destination. Self investigation does not necessarily require words and if words are to be used they are simple tools so i'd say that if incoherent blabbering takes you deep into reality, does it matter how you got there, is anybody left to judge anything?!Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03098205640361255053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-19201177784112670692017-04-12T17:15:10.543+01:002017-04-12T17:15:10.543+01:00daisilui,
"From my perspective one way to ac...daisilui,<br /><br /><i>"From my perspective one way to achieve clarity is by eliminating confusion and in this situation i found it more practical to experience existence and the knowing of it at an impersonal level, i.e. not as I but as existence knowing itself.”</i><br /><br />I couldn’t agree more.<br /><br />That is why instead of asking the question “Do you exist right now?” or “Are you aware right now?”, which fall prey of the different meanings of “you” (ego or self), if we ask impersonally: “Is there existence right now?" or "Is there awareness right now?”, we connect right away with the impersonal “flavor” of the non-dual nature of what is.<br /><br />At the risk of being profane or sacrilegious, I wonder if the question “Who Am I?” wouldn’t have more investigation impact if it was translated “Who (or What) <b>is</b> I?"<br />Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-24957567138618964962017-04-12T16:54:11.790+01:002017-04-12T16:54:11.790+01:00i cannot add too much to what Mouna said in his re...i cannot add too much to what Mouna said in his reply referring to the ajata teaching. i would only bring some clarification to my way of expressing the experience of being.<br /><br />i don't question Michael's knowledge of the teaching, he and Ramana may be right [i know Ramana wouldn't mind me saying that...] but... <br />There was a time when i followed the path of 'I am' and it felt the right thing at that time. After a while there was too much confusion between the use of the same word "I" for different meanings. Later things started to become confusing therefore to circumvent that i found alternatives that felt more appropriate and in the end would be just different paths to the same destination, e.g. Self/Being/Existence/Awareness, etc. If the feeling of existence exists and is known 'here' [instead of by me], does it necessarily need an "I" to know it?! Without the I, does it mean this knowing of being is false?!<br /><br />Language is developed for communication, dealing with this relative/unreal environment and therefore when it comes to following a spiritual teaching it needs to be as precise and clear as possible [the teaching is still within the relative]. From my perspective one way to achieve clarity is by eliminating confusion and in this situation i found it more practical to experience existence and the knowing of it at an impersonal level, i.e. not as I but as existence knowing itself. In the end this is a minor detail that makes no difference to Being. If i was to reply from an absolute perspective i'd send out a blank page as a response.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03098205640361255053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-11789596682448782532017-04-12T16:52:46.623+01:002017-04-12T16:52:46.623+01:00aha-mukham,
"I should add that being 'I ...aha-mukham,<br /><br /><i>"I should add that being 'I am' always is and never ends and therefore does not cease to be in deep sleep."</i><br /><br />Who is saying that?<br />The moment you will make that statement in deep sleep I'll then consider it.<br /><br />My point, my friend, is that ego is everything, and that "everything" means also thoughts and conceptual frameworks such as even what lies beyond ego.<br /><br /> No one can say I am in deep sleep, not because there is no I, is because there is <b>only</b> I, as paradoxical as it may sound.Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-49744933695738783702017-04-12T16:00:50.966+01:002017-04-12T16:00:50.966+01:00Mouna,
I should add that being 'I am' alwa...Mouna,<br />I should add that being 'I am' always is and never ends and therefore does not cease to be in deep sleep.aha-mukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-67796107070269141772017-04-12T15:54:59.281+01:002017-04-12T15:54:59.281+01:00Mouna,
1. when you write that "the sense of I...Mouna,<br />1. when you write that "the sense of I Am" is not existent in deep sleep you should consider that the sense of anything implies duality whereas being 'I am' is nondual.<br /><br />2- "Reality doesn't need words to explain its identity, because it doesn't have one."<br />Reality is itself its own identity called self-awareness.aha-mukhamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7345918888953765241.post-60516365848029413572017-04-12T14:57:42.761+01:002017-04-12T14:57:42.761+01:00The conceptual framework upon which we think and b...The conceptual framework upon which we think and base our discussions is still the ego's. It is often said that Bhagavan taught vivarta vada mainly because ajata (oneself) surpasses our ability of comprehension with the limited intellect we have.<br />Notions of "I", oneself, what is, existence, consciousness, absolute, brahman, even "I Am" and "I am I", exist only within this mental (egoic) conceptual framework.<br />When this framework is dissolved with the dissolution of the ego, there is no more place of reference for an "I", no matter how absolute "I" is or I "am".<br />"I am that I am" and "I am I" are the closest interpretations, from the deluded egoic viewpoint, of what actual reality (ajata) is. I believe that is why Bhagavan used to say that the highest form of teaching is silence, since it doesn't require the conceptual framework of the mind and connects directly with the non duality of what is.<br />Another hint could be deep sleep, where all conceptual notions, <b>including</b> the sense of I Am are nonexistent for the simple reason (although it may sound as a contradiction) that there is <b>only</b> I Am.<br /><br />Reality doesn't need words to explain its identity, because it doesn't have one.Mounahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416580298727681711noreply@blogger.com